With SHARE-North Squared, we firmly believe in integrating shared mobility into real estate developments. It is, therefore, not surprising that we are keen on organizing external events to share knowledge about this topic with stakeholders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
The SN²-team at work, overlooking stunning Stavanger!
Our public events are widely known for their content-rich presentations and stimulating exchanges. And this year’s first edition in the City of Stavanger, Norway’s energy capital and third largest city, felt even more extraordinary and exceptional! Not only because of the venue itself, but also by the exquisite speaker lineup and the rich content of the topics.
The SN²-team on their way to Skråtårnet.
Stavanger, from oil to sustainability capital
As the participants gathered in the high-arching tower of Skråtårnet, overlooking the old industrial area of Jåttåvågen, they were not only awed by the beautiful mountain panorama on the other side of the fjord but also by the sheer extent of construction and development going on in this former oil industrial area.
Jåttåvågen is the neighborhood in Stavanger where the oil industry planned and constructed the huge concrete oil platforms used during the first era of offshore oil drilling. The area is currently being redeveloped into an area where fossil-fueled mobility will play less and less of a role in the daily mobility solutions of inhabitants and employees. It was, in other words, the perfect venue for our SN² partner Stavanger to host the event!
In total, we welcomed around 90 participants from various professional backgrounds. City planners, developers, transport providers, housing companies, mobility planners, and other experts gathered to get inspired by our 11 speakers. We were in for stimulating discussions on how to plan and implement a sustainable and livable future of mobility and shape the region’s transformation.
Gunn Jorunn Aasland welcoming the audience.
Setting the scene...
Opening the event, Gunn Jorunn Aasland, Director of City and Community Planning, welcomed the attendees and shared Stavanger’s rich history and transformation: from a fishing town to an oil-powered urban hub, and now into a city aiming for a less car-centric, climate-conscious growth. This ambition is completely in line with Norway’s ‘zero-growth goal’ for urban cities, meaning that any growth in passenger transport shall be absorbed by public transport, cycling, and walking (see OECD 2021).
Next, Rebecca Karbaumer from the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen shared how innovative parking regulations and mobility management have shifted mobility behavior in Bremen’s urban developments. She emphasized why innovative parking bylaws are an essential tool not only for urban planners but also for real estate developers in order to shape mobility behavior of residents, workers, employers and all people using these developments.
The Kolumbus team presenting the autonomous bus pilot.
Things are moving in Stavanger!
Stavanger’s own team, represented by Imme Dirks Eskeland and Christin Berg (City of Stavanger), presented plans for integrating shared mobility and mobility hubs into new developments like Jåttåvågen. Their objective is quite ambitious: reducing car use to under 30% through sustainable planning and multimodal options.
Espen Strand Henriksen from Kolumbus, the regional mobility provider, highlighted their growing ecosystem of transport services, from Bus Rapid Transport systems and e-bikes to MaaS integration and autonomous buses. Strong collaboration between public and private sectors is imperative to realizing Kolumbus’ goal of ‘easy peasy mobility’.
Essential in developing a sustainable transport ecosystem is how real estate projects are designed. Developers Tom Rune Tjelta from Jåttå utbyggingsselskap and Grete Kvinnesland from Stavanger utvikling KF showcased some pioneering projects in this respect, like Jåttå and Hinna Park, both designed with car-free living and green spaces in mind.
Next, we explored some community-focused approaches to housing. Lars Christian Blåsternes introduced the audience to Coo’s co-ownership housing model, which aims to create socially inclusive and connected neighborhoods. Felix Grimsrud took the listeners on a journey through Heime's "Living as a Service" concept, highlighting the importance of social cohesion and simply knowing your neighbor and sharing a common objective when living under the same roof.
To close our public event, Elisabeth Heigre stressed the many health benefits of active travel, like reduced risk of depression or cardiovascular diseases. The perfect motivation for traveling back home, to the hotel, or... to the local sauna!
A very engaged audience during our public event!
Witnessing momentum
In line with the objectives of the SHARE-North Squared project, our gathering underscored the importance of integrated planning, citizen involvement, and innovative partnerships in shaping cities that are livable, inclusive, and sustainable. While challenges remain, particularly around financing, political engagement, and behavioral change, we are excited to see that the momentum toward a greener, smarter Stavanger is well underway.
Written by: Cornelia Cordes (Bremen)
Edited by: Jelten Baguet (Mpact)